Oktoberfest, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire

We returned to the Uttoxeter Racecourse Caravan Club Site this weekend, having first come here last November.  We arrived in heavy downpours and were greeted by very helpful wardens who immediately guided us to a pitch that had been closed to recover from seasonal use.  They made it available to us as it was less water saturated than other available pitches.  Nice touch.  Most campers had arrived the previous day and all hard standings were occupied (14 in total).  The wardens said that they had been expecting another 9 pitches to be converted to hard standing at Easter but this didn’t materialise.  It would certainly benefit this site which often floods with surface water.

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk-caravan-sites-and-parks/SiteDetails.aspx?csid=22007

Getting the rain out of the way on arrival, ready for a day of sunshine at the races

Sunrise

Bright start to the day

We returned to Uttoxeter to experience a taste of Germany at the Oktoberfest Race Day gathering.  We booked several months in advance following last year’s visit to the November Marston’s Beer Festival (see previous blog post Nov 2015).  These race days are great days out and to top it off, we booked the premier 1907 restaurant (previously Silks Restaurant) hospitality package.

http://www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk/

Brekkie part 1

Brekkie part 2

Good to go …

It was an amazing day, great atmosphere, excellent food, German beer & a Bavarian style Oompah Band!  There were 8 races in total and things got off to a cracking start with us backing winners in the first two races with Pickamix and Whatduhavtoget.  We also had good luck throughout the day with Ballycross, Value At Risk, Tantamount, Cobajayisland, Itstimeforapint, and Donna’s Pride.  We seemed more savvy this time around and it was exciting nipping out to the bookie stands in between meal courses (you can order each course at whatever time is convenient to you) and watching some races from the stands and others on the screens inside the restaurant.  Fab atmosphere wherever you were!

Crossing from campsite to race course

Race course

Oompah, pah …

Raceday programme

First race and a WINNER!

After all the excitement, good food and beer/wine, we returned to Jolly at the end of the afternoon and slumped happily inside and relaxed for the remainder of the day.  We decided to cabin up for the night just as the sun was setting, and slept well in the peaceful surroundings.  Next morning we headed back home.

Sun setting on a great day

Until next time ..

10/10 for this trip.  We just loved every minute and no doubt we’ll be back at some point in the not too distant future.

For now though, our next outing will be in a few weeks’ time and probably somewhere in the Lake District or wherever the mood takes us …

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri

The Marston’s Beer Festival, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire

What a brilliant weekend we’ve just experienced at the Marston’s Beer Festival Race Day at Uttoxeter Racecourse in Staffordshire.

We stayed at the Uttoxeter Racecourse Caravan Club Site which is situated at the centre of the racecourse and is about a 20 minute walk from the centre of Uttoxeter.  Prior to our stay we noticed a lot of reviews criticising the facilities on this site as being tired and in need of upgrading.  We didn’t actually use the facilities though because, as is most often the case, we used our onboard facilities and were staying here purely to experience a day at the races.  Therefore, we were more than satisfied with our experience at this site which is just a 5-minute walk from pitch to racecourse, without having to negotiate any heavy traffic or crowds that race days bring.  Unfortunately, there are currently only a handful of hard standing pitches at this site and the rest are grass.  Although pitching up was fine, we needed the assistance of the site staff’s grip mats to get off after 2 days of quite heavy rain.  This wasn’t a problem, however, as they are clearly used to this service being required because they had the equipment readily to hand and were only too happy to help people.  A big thumbs up to the staff for that 👍

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk-caravan-sites-and-parks/SiteDetails.aspx?csid=22007

Sunshine on arrival as we approach the course

Entrance to the site and course

Caravan park

Pitched up, with race spectator stand in the distance

We booked this Jolly Adventure about 6 months ago for the purpose of celebrating Bri’s retirement after he completed just under 30 yrs managing his local LFRS fire station.  We had a ball and celebrated good-style!  Firstly, we booked a premier ticket (access all areas) and our own table for the day with a 4 course silver service meal in The Silks Restaurant.  We were not disappointed, and despite the typical November weather becoming wetter as the day went on, we were perfectly comfortable and warm in the restaurant, watching the live races on a big screen and placing bets from our table.  Before the weather changed we also got a good feel of the atmosphere on the outside spectator stand and Suzie got her first experience of placing a bet with the bookies outside (she looked a bit of a pro actually!).  We had a couple of very exciting wins – horses that brought us some luck included Hi Vic, Penn Lane and Call to Order.  We had a fantastic day out and would love to do it all again sometime.  Maybe Suzie needs to retire??

http://www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/fixture/14-november-2015/

http://www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk/

Walk across the course from site

Walk to course from site

Hobgoblin mobile bar, part of the Marston’s Beer Festival

Marston’s horse box bar

Vintage dray wagon (carrying Bri’s beer order for the day!)

Winner’s enclose & parade ring before racing began

A winning ticket – hoorah! 🏇🏇🏇

Celebration in Silks Restaurant 🍴🍷🍻

Happy well-earned semi-Retirement Bri! 😀

During our stay we also had an evening out in the market place area of Uttoxeter, where the 13th Century ‘Ye Old Talbot Pub’ still stands, and later enjoyed an authentic Indian meal at the Kohi Noor in town.

War memorial in Market Place, Uttoxeter

The Vault – a quirky little pub that put us both in mind of the sitcom ‘Early Doors’

A warm welcome at the 13th Century Old Talbot Pub

The weather throughout this trip was mostly cold, wet and windy; a reminder that we’ll be needing our winter woollies for our trips over the coming months.  We have also ordered Jolly some Milenco Grip Mats which are not only good on wet grass, but are also effective in ice and snow.

Our next adventure at the end of the month will have a very festive feel as we approach the Christmas period, and if Bri’s good he might get to visit Santa’s Grotto … ho! ho! ho! 🎅🏻

ONWARD!>>>>

Suzie & Bri